32. Chapter 31
They neared the double doors to the ballroom in Belarune.
The two students wearing all-black clothing, whom she eyed carefully, stood close and pulled the doors open for them.
A rippling sheen of magic covered the doorway, obscuring the inside from view.
She stopped, and Maeve moved next to her as she placed her hand on her shoulder.
“It’s only the illusion spell to change how everything inside looks,” Maeve said with a comforting smile. “I asked Rhea how it worked, and apparently, it decorates everything to whatever theme the glamour students decide, even our outfits.”
“Where is she tonight, by the way?” Ezra asked.
“She said she was sick when I stopped by her place,” Liam said.
“We’ll just have to have fun for her. Now let’s go,” Maeve said excitedly, latching onto Ivy’s hand to pull her closer.
They stepped through the doorway, the magic covering it stretched across her body as if she had dived into a pool of slime, slowly coating her skin.
When she popped out on the other side, she heaved in a breath and gaped at her surroundings.
Old wooden planks barred the windows, ragged sheets covered stacked furniture in the corners of the room, and all along the walls were ghostly portraits or clumps of cobwebs.
Bats squeaked and chirped above their heads as they flew around near the ceiling.
People in various costumes, ranging from historical figures to movie characters to sexy pinup versions of those and everything, filled the hot room to the brim.
Maeve’s cat costume had transformed into a slinky orange silk dress with sparkling diamond straps, her curls were partially pulled into two space buns in the shape of cat ears, and a lacy mask lay across her face.
Ivy’s mouth dropped as she took in the outfit, and Maeve twirled to show it off.
Surely Liam would faint when he saw it, considering the obvious crush he had.
Then she glanced at her own outfit and gasped.
Her black dress was now strapless with silver glitter cobwebs on the fabric.
Boning lined the top and pushed her breasts to display a generous amount of cleavage, and the short skirt ending halfway down her thigh had a tulle underskirt to give it volume.
“Oh my god,” Maeve said, her mouth open wide as she gawked at Ivy’s outfit. “Ezra is going to die when he sees you in that.”
Her stomach fluttered, and before she could say anything, Ezra and Liam came in behind them.
Both of their clothes turned into black suits.
Liam’s shirt was the color of the sea, and she swore there were small ocean waves moving across the fabric.
The blue and silver scales Maeve drew on his face—after thirty minutes of convincing to dress as a merman—shimmered in the flashing lights like they were real.
Ezra’s new costume resembled a vampire. His shirt was blood red, and two of his teeth became sharpened fangs, and it made her clench her thighs together.
She’d probably have some twisted, devastatingly hot dreams about him sinking those into her skin later tonight.
If she were being honest, she didn’t hate him being in her dreams anymore.
The closer he let her, the stronger her feelings became, and the more she wanted to know his touch.
Whether that was his hands, his lips, or his…
God, she really needed to get herself under control.
How could she when his eyes trailed down her body like he wanted nothing but to see what was beneath her dress? When he noticed he was caught, his gaze darted to the other side of the room. His cheeks turned almost the same shade as his shirt as he stuttered and pointed toward the bar.
Liam chuckled, patting him heavily on the back. “Let’s grab some drinks, yeah?”
Over the next few hours, they danced, drank, and danced some more. The real world was miles away. The secrets, disappearances, and troubles all melted away beneath the orange and purple strobe lights of the dance floor. A part of her wished it wouldn’t end.
She and Ezra moved to the balcony to get some air, leaving Maeve and Liam to continue dancing together.
As they reached an empty spot near the railing, she hung her arms on the banister, and he leaned in next to her.
His cologne and the whiskey he’d been drinking surrounded her, and she moved in closer to him.
“How’re you feeling?” he asked.
“Good.” She glanced at him and smiled when he smirked.
His cheeks were pink, probably from the alcohol, but a part of her hoped it was still because of her outfit.
“I keep wondering if Arcania could’ve been like this the whole time.
No secrets. No missing friends. Only dancing, drinking, and pretending finals aren’t too far off. ”
“I wish it could be like that too.” His fingers brushed along her wrist. “Even though it’s not, I’m at least glad it’s another night I get to spend with you.”
“Sweet talker.” She gently nudged her shoulder against his chest.
The dimple in his cheek deepened as he grinned, and he tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. “Why don’t I get us some water? I don’t think we’ve had any for the last few hours.”
“Okay.” The word came out more like a mouse’s squeak as his hand slid to her lower back, leaving her body tingling as he went to the bar.
She leaned further over the balcony, watching him as he weaved through the crowd. Conversations around her filtered in and out through the lower pulses of the music below.
“Yeah, the last exam was brutal. Someone on my team got lost for a few hours,” someone said nearby.
She straightened, and her mind raced out of the cloud of alcohol and fun, slamming back into reality.
Her chest caved in as guilt surfaced once again.
How could she forget why they came tonight?
Yes, blowing off steam was part of it. But the other was to figure out if something was happening inside.
“Someone from my astronomy class got lost for over a day,” another said. She searched until she spotted a couple of women standing farther down on the balcony. “And according to my professor, they left Arcania since it was too intense.”
As she was about to approach them, they pushed away from the railing, moving to the set of stairs on the opposite side of the room.
She turned her attention back to the crowd below and sighed.
Was that what the school was doing with the missing students?
Marking them as dropouts or runaways? How many more were there?
Her magic prickled along her neck, but before she could look behind her, someone filled Ezra’s spot next to her, though he didn’t stand as close. He was a few inches shorter than Ezra, so she didn’t have to crane her neck to meet his eyes.
“How are you enjoying the party?” he asked, his voice deep but soft.
She stared at him curiously. He wore all black, like the students out front, except he was more polished.
His button-up shirt was neat, with only the first one left undone, and his crisp black jacket didn’t have a single wrinkle.
What was strange was how his eyes were nearly as dark as his clothes.
It was like staring up at a starless night where the only light was a thin crescent moon.
“How rude of me, my name is Silas Craine,” he introduced, holding out his pale hand. “I’m one of the hosts tonight.”
“Oh,” she said, shaking her head to let go of her suspicion. She took it, and her breath hitched as a spark—a mix of hot and cold—crackled between them as their skin brushed. But his face remained unchanged. Did he even feel it? Maybe she had too much to drink. “I’m Ivy.”
“Pleasure to meet you, Ivy.” His hand encased hers gently for a moment before letting it drop.
He scanned the crowd below, and she followed his line of sight to find Ezra.
And for the briefest of moments, the corners of his lips turned up, and his expression softened.
If she hadn’t been watching, she would’ve missed it.
“He seems to enjoy your company,” he said smoothly.
“You know him.” It wasn’t a question.
He snapped his focus back to her, his square jaw slack before shifting into a shocked grin. A moment later, it faded into a subtle smile. “You’re observant.”
“One of my many traits,” she said, returning to Ezra for a moment. He was still waiting at the bar. “How do you two know each other?”
“We were friends once,” Silas said, his eyes bouncing back to Ezra before meeting Ivy’s gaze again.
She could tell Silas missed him. Even if he didn’t show it, she sensed the longing in his voice. But she kept that observation to herself. She didn’t know him. Nor did she know his relationship with Ezra.
“I can pass along a message?” she asked instead.
“That’s unnecessary,” he murmured before nodding once. “But you’re sweet to offer. I should attend to the other guests. I hope we see each other again soon, Ivy.”
Before she could answer, he slipped away from the banister and passed behind her so closely his shoulder swept against hers, leaving a deep, smoky scent in his wake.
She watched as he strolled across the balcony, stopping occasionally to speak with others before disappearing behind a door on the other side.
When she turned away, she spotted Ezra walking up the stairs with Liam and Maeve.
They spent another hour at the party before sleep tugged at her. She excused herself to use the restroom before asking if they wanted to leave for the night.
As she stepped through the door on the lower level, a blast of cool air curled around her, and she stumbled to the side, her hand bracing her against the cold tiled wall.
She didn’t realize how hot it was back there.
A few other women stumbled down the hall, snickering and gossiping as they went back to the party.
When she opened the door to the restroom, a quiet sob came from the farthest stall.
“Are you okay?” she called out.
“Who’s there?” a woman shouted.